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Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Dartmouth to Expand Scholarship Program for International Students

By Jordan Friedman

World Education Services

A Dartmouth alumnus and his
wife have contributed a $21 million gift to their scholarship program that
enables students from developing nations to study at the college, according to
a Dartmouth press release.

Since the program’s founding
in 2013 by Bob King, a 1957 graduate, and his wife Dottie, six King scholars
have matriculated at Dartmouth, hailing from countries including Burkina Faso,
Jamaica, Kenya, Rwanda and Zimbabwe. The students are chosen through selective
admissions recruitment efforts and nominations from members of the Dartmouth
community, and are passionate about fighting global poverty.

With the Kings’ recent gift,
the program now has more than $35 million, enabling Dartmouth to accept a total
of 24 scholars in the next four years, with hopes of bringing that number to 50
in the next decade, the school says in the press release. The gift will also
help expand the program and introduce new features such as an annual King
Leadership Week in New York or Washington, D.C., where students will interact
with various government agencies and development organizations.

“What makes this program
unique and successful is twofold,” Bob King told Dartmouth Now.
“It brings exceptional students who have themselves lived in poverty and
encourages them to use their perspective to make real change happen.